Collar protector



Nov. 17, 1931. R. F. T. wlLKE COLLAR PROTECTOR Filed OCT.. 14. 1927 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 PATENr `oFFicE ROBERT IF. T. WILKE, OF ALBANY, NEW 'YORK COLLAR rnornoron Application led October 14, 1927. Serial No. 226,196.

My invention relates to collar protectors and particularly to a device of this character adapted for the use of launderers or manufacturers of shirts of that type in which the collar is permanently attached.

In the laundering of shirts with collars attached, it is quite impossible, at present, to deliver the shirt to the customer with the collar in the same' perfect condition that it is finished in the laundry. It is usual to pack a number of shirts in one box for delivery to the customer, and where this is done, the weight of the shirts, packed one upon another, crushes the collars particularly at the 15 front. In order to remedy this it has been proposed by others to insert a strip of cardboard underneath the collar, but such devices, so far as I am aware, are not at all successful.

They do not protect the outside of the collar and simply .form a stiening means which is interposed between the folds of the collar or between the collar and the shirt.

The objects of`my invention therefore are to provide a device of cheap and simple character, which is easily positioned and which will absolutely prevent the crushing of a v collar, particularly at the front.

With these objects in view, my invention consists of the novel device described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my protector;

Fig. 2 illustrates the protector in over folded position, but not interlocked;

Fig. 3 illustrates the first step in the application of my device to a laundered shirt;

Fig. 4 illustrates how the device is`overfolded and interlocked with the collar to form a protector therefor; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the protector in folded, interlocked position.

Referring to the drawings, my device comprises a strip of flexible material represented r generally by the numeral, 1. The device must be cheap, and while it may be formed of any flexible material, I prefer to use ordinary cardboard.

The device may be cut from a blank consisting of a rectangular strip of cardboard having an over all length of about 11 inches 'and a width of about 6 inches.

It is to be understood that these dimensions are in no sense a limitation on the size of the device but I find that these proportions give very satisfactory results. One end of such a cardboard blank is bifurcated or notched as shown at 2, to form portions adapted to embrace the collar at the throat, and the ends, 3, are preferably rounded, as shown. Beginning at about the middle point, 4, of the strip the 6o lsides thereof are tapered inwardly, as shown at 5, and this taper continues for such a distance from the line of fold, 4, as will bring the points, 6, substantially on the edges vof the notch, 2,'when the device is folded, as shown in Fig. 2. Beginning at the points, 6, the strip is widened symmetrically and rather abruptly to form the laterally extending tabs, 7 and 8. The object in having the points, 6, come substantially on the edges of the notch or fall just short thereof when the device is folded, is to give the bulging shape illustrated in Fig. 5 'when the device is locked in folded position by springing the tabs, 7 and 8, under the edges of the notch.

When the shirt with collar attached has been ironed and folded for delivery to the customer, the notched or bifurcated end, 2, is inserted between the collar, 9, and the shirt, 10, as shown in Fig. 3, so *that the notched or bifurcated portion embraces the collar at the throat. The other end of the strip is then folded over along the line, 4, and the tabs, 7 and 8, are sprung between the sides of the collar as shown in Fig. 4. These tabs interlock with the sides of the collar and hold the device securely in place.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the point, 6, comes about on the edges of the notch, 2. When the device is on the collar as shown in Fig. 4 a portion of the collar is interposed between the notchN and the tabs. This causes the strip to bulge slightly so that the portion, 11, of the strip which is overfolded the portion, 13, does not lie dat upon the front of the collar and there is some space betwen the collar and the bulging portion, 11, which protects the collar from being crushed. This is best shown in Fig. 5,

. which-shows the device in folded position and the tabs interlocked with the bifurcation.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the words which I have used are Words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is-Vv 1. A collar rotector comprising a strip of flexible materlal having a notch at one end adapting it to he inserted between the folds of said collar. at the throat, and a portion adapted to overfold the notched end provided with lateral tabs adapted to project beneat-h the sidesV of said collar for locking the support in place.

2. A collar protector comprising a strip of flexible material notched at one end to provide a throat embracing portion, and provided at the other end with tabs adapted to underlie the sides of said notch when the ends of said strip lie foldedtogether.

3. A collar protector comprising a strip of cardboard folded over along a line intermediate the ends thereof to provide portions adapted to receive the front of said collar therebetween, and the portion adapted to underlie said collar being notched to conform substantially to the shape of the collar at the throat.

4. The combination with a shirt having an attached collar of a collar protector comprising a strip of flexible material having a notch at one end inserted between the collar and shirt at the throat and a portion folded over the notched end of said support and engaging the inside of the collar.

5. The combination with a shirt having an attached collar of a flexible collar protector having a notch at one end embracing the throat of the collar and a portion folded over the throat embracing portion and interlocked therewith.

6. The combination with a shirt having an attached collar of a exible collar rotector notched at one end and embracingl t e throat of said shirt` the other end of said protector being provided with tabs and folded over so that said tabs project beneath the collar and hold the protector in place. 1

ROBERT F. T. WILKE. 

